Winnebago County graduates 10 through Therapeutic Intervention Court

ROCKFORD — Matthew Fulgiam has stood in front of "more than a few judges" during years in and out of the criminal justice system.

The 29-year-old remembers a distinct difference the first time he was face to face with Judge Janet Holmgren for Therapeutic Intervention Program Court. She smiled at him.

"I've never had a judge do that," Fulgiam said. "Here's a person who doesn't know me, but you can genuinely tell that they care, which kind of opened the door for me caring about myself."

Fulgiam was one of 10 people to graduate today from TIP Court, a specialized problem-solving court for offenders whose underlying mental illnesses have been determined as primary causes for their behaviors. The program is designed to reduce crime by helping frequent offenders transform their lives.

TIP participants have usually committed misdemeanors or low-level felonies. Their diagnosed mental illness must have a causal connection to the crime. As long as the defendant follows the rules of the program, they are provided access to mental health services and could receive disposition of their case.

Fulgiam said his problems first stemmed from alcohol abuse, but when he stopped drinking, mental challenges such as post-traumatic stress disorder related to gang involvement and bipolar disorder became more apparent.

"I've been on probation since I was 15," he said during a short interview today. "Honestly, if I had come across this program then, I would be long removed from the criminal system now. This has really changed my life."

Fulgiam and his fellow graduates were celebrated inside a courtroom in the Winnebago County Criminal Justice Center today for their efforts to complete the demanding court program. Probation workers and other treatment professionals involved in TIP Court took time to acknowledge each of the graduates' strengths and the progress they've made since starting the program.

Fulgiam was praised for his talent as a writer. He said he has become a better father since entering TIP Court. He's also working and is enrolled at Rock Valley College for nursing. There were similar success stories shared for the program's other nine graduates.

"What you saw today was living proof that it does make a difference," Holmgren said. "The common theme is that if they can get engaged with a team like the TIP Court team, where they have comprehensive services and intense supervision, they can make it. That's the bottom line — they can make it."

It was the 16th graduation ceremony for TIP Court. A total of 103 people have graduated since the program began in 2005. About 80 people were gathered in court to congratulate the program's graduates, including program personnel and some friends and family members of graduates.

The presence of family members is notable because many participants "had been so problematic within their own families that their families had walked away," Holmgren said. "A lot of people have restored healthy relationships with their families, and that's probably one of the best outcomes in terms of quality of life for everybody."

Later in the day, a second specialty court celebrated its own graduation. Sixteen Drug Court participants graduated today in the 32nd such ceremony for the program. There have been 541 Drug Court graduates to date. Similar to TIP Court, Drug Court focuses on people whose criminal behavior is rooted in substance abuse and who have a desire for rehabilitation.